"No one has the answer?" Paige asked, looking at her silent Tuesday morning class. After her classes it was back to cleaning her lab, and she was in just as foul a mood as she had been in the day before. The class could sense it and everyone had been unusually quiet, no one offering to answer any questions. She partially felt bad, because she guessed probably only one person was responsible, but she was also too fed up to waste time on guilt. "Interesting. I guess you didn't understand the lesson today. Anyone want to tell me otherwise?"

Still no one answered. Darren looked at her quietly while Sydney pretended to be writing in her notebook. Aria chewed quietly on her nails.

"Okay," she replied. "Then you can read the chapter and tomorrow at the beginning of the lab we'll have a quiz."

That got their attention, and immediately everyone was protesting. She knew she was being nasty and taking her frustration out on her students, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Starting with Alison's death she hadn't had a day without heartache and fear and she was tired of it. No matter how pathetic it sounded, her students were the one thing she felt she could somewhat control.

"You can't do that!"

"There's not enough time!"

"It's thirty pages long!"

"I have a game tonight!"

"Quiet!" she snapped. "That isn't my problem. You were the ones who chose not to pay attention."

"You've been a real bitch lately," Lucas cut in, and everyone turned to stare at him. He was always the quiet kid who did what he was supposed to, and he never mouthed off to teachers.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you've been a real bitch lately," he repeated loudly. "I'm sorry about Alison. I'm sorry about your lab. But with the way you've been acting maybe someone thought you deserved it."

She stared at him, her eyes brimming with tears. His words hurt, especially because they were true.

"That's enough," she told him softly. "Or you can take zero."

He didn't respond to that. She swallowed hard, desperately trying to fight tears as she began to erase the whiteboard.

"Class dismissed."

The students all left quickly, leaving her alone in the room. She sank down at the desk and buried her face in her hands, refusing to give in to the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She took a deep breath instead, trying to calm herself the way Dr. Kingston had suggested. He assured her over and over again that nothing was wrong with her, that her behavior was common for someone going through what she was going through. But the people around her didn't seem to understand that, and she was terrified that eventually Emily was going to feel like them and leave her. Emily had been her rock through this entire ideal, and she couldn't even begin to imagine what would happen to her if she did leave. At that thought she couldn't hold back her tears any longer and let out a choked sob, the pain and fear she was feeling overwhelming her.

She stayed that way for a while, grateful the hall was empty and not many people were ever around this section of the building. She was busy feeling sorry for herself and wishing she had never met Alison DiLaurentis, wishing she had never seen her with Ian in the first place. That was the moment she had gotten emotionally invested, and she hadn't been able to do her any good anyway. And now someone hated her, just like they had hated Alison, and she was terrified.

"Dr. McCullers?"

She jumped, looking up to see Darren standing in the doorway. She sniffed, quickly wiping her eyes as she tried to make it look like she had been doing something other than crying.

"What, Darren?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Not everyone feels that way. What Lucas said. I know I don't."

"Why not? He's right," she replied, standing up. "I have been a bitch, and nothing that's happened is an excuse. He's right. I did deserve…." She trailed off, realizing exactly what Lucas had said. He had suggested she had deserved it. Did that mean anything?

"That's what I came to tell you," Darren replied. "I think he might have trashed your lab."

"What makes you say that?" she asked, considering the possibility. She just didn't understand it. Lucas was such a nice, quiet boy.

"He's been complaining a lot about you yelling at us lately," he replied, and she looked down. Maybe she did deserve to have her lab trashed. "And I saw him around there Sunday night."

"Sunday night?"

"Yeah. There's a chem study group in the chemistry library."

"I see," she replied. "Did he… did he say anything to you?"

He shrugged, inching closer to her. She took a step back.

"Just that you've been really bitchy lately and someone was going to give you what you deserve."

"He said that?"

"Yup. Aria heard it too if you don't believe me."

"No… no, I do," she replied, taking a deep breath. "I just don't want to."

"I'm sorry," he offered. She gave him a sad smile.

"Thank you for telling me."

"Of course," he replied, locking eyes with her. She swallowed hard. "He needs to be punished, doing something like that."

"I'll talk to him," she replied, looking anywhere but Darren. "If I can get him to confess, we'll go from there."

"If there's anything I can do to help," he replied, his hand brushing up against hers. She jerked back as if she had been burned, gathering up her papers as fast as she could.

"Thank you, Darren. But I really need to go."

She pushed past him and hurried down the hall, glancing back to see if he was following her. He wasn't, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she started up the stairs to her lab. As she walked past the chemistry library she saw Lucas inside, studying, so she poked her head inside and cleared her throat loudly.

"I need to speak with you. In my lab."

"I'm busy."

"I don't care. I need to speak with you."

Rolling his eyes he got up and followed her down the hall. She unlocked the door to her lab and let him in, flipping the light on. It was mostly clean compared to yesterday, but she would still have to stay late to finish up. She beckoned for him to sit, standing next to him with her arms folded.

"I got an anonymous tip that you were by my lab Sunday night."

"I was at my chemistry study group. I am every Sunday night."

"Really?" she asked, giving him a stern look. "Did you tell someone that I was being bitchy and I was going to get what I deserved?"

He gulped. She sneered at him.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"I-I don't remember exactly what I said."

"Uh huh. Well, I have reason to believe that you were the one who trashed my lab."

"What? No!"

"Why should I believe you? Your outburst in class, your lurking around the lab, telling others I'm going to get what I deserve. It doesn't look very good."

He didn't answer. She pulled out her cell phone.

"You're sure you don't want to confess?"

"I didn't do anything."

"Then who did?"

"How the fuck should I know?" he snarled, standing up. She jumped back. "Anyone could have done it. You do deserve it. And how dare you accuse me of something like that with no evidence!"

"It's not with no evi-."

"If you're going to accuse me of vandalism, I need a lawyer."

"Then-."

"You better be careful, Dr. McCullers," he added suddenly, his voice suddenly calm as he got up and walked for the door. "You don't want to make the wrong person angry."

"Is that a threat?" she asked. He paused in the doorway.

"Maybe," he replied, and disappeared out of sight. She stared after him, her heart pounding. She couldn't decide if he had done it or not. His reaction had certainly been suspicious, and a little disturbing. He had basically threatened her, and while part of her couldn't blame him, the other part was afraid.

"Fuck me," she muttered, looking around the lab. She had loved teaching microbiology and working in her own research lab, until this year. This year everything had been shot to shit as far as her job was concerned, between one of her students being brutally murdered and half of her students turning on her. She didn't feel strong enough to handle this at all. The one thing keeping her sane was Emily, the only redeeming quality about this school year. She smiled at the mere thought of her, remembering her passionate night and early this morning with her. She wanted, no needed, to see her, even if it was just for a little while. The lab could wait and looking at it was just increasing her anxiety. So she closed and locked the door behind her, making her way to Rutherford Hall across from the science building. She knew Emily didn't have a class at the moment, so she would probably be in her office. Sure enough that was where she found her, knocking on the open door to get her attention.

"Paige! Hi," she greeted her, smiling when she saw her. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," she sighed, sitting down. "I just wanted to see you."

"Is everything okay, honey?" she asked, setting down the paper she had been grading. She could see the worried expression on Paige's face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

"Same shit," she replied. "I just want to go home."

"I know," she soothed, standing up and sitting down next to her. "Please tell me what happened."

"I just can't take this shit anymore, Emily. I feel like almost anyone could be behind this. Apparently all of my students hate me and they think I deserve what's happening."

"Who the hell said that?"

"One of the kids in my morning class. I questioned him about trashing my lab, and he got all defensive. He basically threatened me."

"Oh, Paige…. did you call Toby?"

"And tell him what? I have no evidence on anyone. Half my students seem like they have motives. The police are more concerned with finding out who killed Alison, not who's giving me a hard time at work."

"But this person is dangerous, Paige. Their first priority should be keeping you safe."

"I don't think the lab thing was connected. I think it's a student who was pissed at me."

"I would agree with that, but there's one thing that seems kind of out of place. Didn't you say the word 'whore' was on the whiteboard?"

"Yeah."

"That seems more…. personal than just an angry student."

Paige shrugged. Maybe she was right, but she didn't really feel like thinking about it.

"Is there anything I can do?" Emily asked, squeezing her hand.

"No. I just wanted to stop in and say hi."

Emily leaned forward and kissed her softly. Paige sighed, relaxing under her touch.

"I'll tell you what. Today after work we're going to start doing some serious snooping."

Paige chuckled.

"How are we going to do that?"

"I haven't thought that through yet. But we're going to get to the bottom of this because I hate seeing you suffer."

"That's sweet, Em, but this person is probably dangerous. I don't want to risk your life for me."

"Well, I'm willing to do anything to help you," Emily replied stubbornly. Paige sighed.

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"I'm always here," Emily added.

"I know you are," Paige replied, kissing her softly. "I'll let you get back to work. I'm going to go see if Spencer is free."

She left Emily's office and made her way across campus to the health center. Spencer was standing in the lobby by the coffee maker, filling a mug Toby had gotten her for her birthday. Paige smirked; she hadn't seen her friend touch another one of her thirty coffee mugs since.

"Don't you ever work, Hastings?"

Spencer turned around, grinning when she saw Paige. She pointed to the stack of disposable coffee cups.

"Want some?"

"Why not?"

"What brings you here, McCullers?"

"I was hoping I could talk to you."

"As a friend or as a counselor?"

"Just talk," she replied. Spencer nodded and led the way to her office.

"Seriously, McCullers. What's up?"

"Did you hear my lab got trashed?"

"I did," she replied. "Toby told me. He heard about it at the station."

"Yeah. I don't know who did it, though. I have a couple ideas, and apparently half my students hate me, so it could be any of them."

"Whoa, back up. What do you mean they hate you?"

"I've been….. snappy, I guess, since Alison. I've been uptight and on edge and I guess the kids feel like I've been taking it out on them."

"I see."

"And I mean, I don't think I have. They've been acting weird, too. And one of them destroyed my lab and I want to find out who it is." Spencer was silent. Paige stared at her. "Has someone confessed to you?"

"You know I can't tell you that, Paige."

"Spencer! You have to-."

"No one has directly confessed, Paige," she told her. "Calm down."

"Spencer, if you know something, you have to tell me. Please."

"I told you, no one confessed."

"But someone said something to make you think they did it."

Spencer didn't answer. Paige clenched her fists, struggling to keep her anger in check.

"This could be the person stalking me, Spencer. My life could be in danger."

"I can't tell you," she started, and Paige groaned. "But you could 'accidentally' see my notes."

"Please."

Spencer pulled a file from the shelf and flipped it open, dropping it on the table. Paige peered at what she had written, frowning. Lucas had been to see her the day before, and he hadn't confessed, but he had said she had gotten what was coming to her.

"I think it was him," she replied as Spencer put the file back. "I had a confrontation with him before and he threatened me."

"Threatened you?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah. He told me I better be careful because someday I might mess with the wrong person."

"Oh," Spencer replied. She thought for a moment, looking at her friend. "Could I make a suggestion?"

"Sure," she replied with a sneer.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm being serious. Be sweet as can be, no matter what. I know that might be hard, but it's what safest for you. Don't give anyone a reason to mess with you."

She nodded. As much as she liked to argue, she had to admit it made sense. But it was difficult to keep her temper in check sometimes, especially when people screwed her over.

"Okay," she sighed. "Thanks, Spencer."

"Stay safe, Paige."

"Yeah," she replied, standing up. "I'm gonna head back to the lab. See you."

It was getting dark as she made her way back to the science building. She went up to her lab, determined to get some more work done before going home.

She wasn't there long before deciding she was too afraid to stay there alone at night. She quickly packed up her bag before heading outside and practically running to her car. But when she got there, something wasn't right. Once she got closer her stomach dropped, realizing exactly what the problem was. Someone had slashed her tires.

"Fuck!" she hissed, pulling out her phone. She didn't know who to call. Emily? A tow truck? "Please," she begged, her phone still refusing to connect. "Please, please, please!"

Finally, as if hearing her plea, it began to ring. She sighed in relief, anxiously looking around to see if anyone was sneaking up on her in the dark.

"Hello?"

"Em, it's me. Are you home yet?"

"No, I decided to stay late and get some work done. Why? Are you okay?"

"I'm in the parking lot. Someone slashed my tires."

"Holy shit. Get back inside!"

"Where?"

"Anywhere! Don't stand out there in the dark! Go back to your lab. I'll come get you."

"Emily-."

"I'm right across from you, Paige. Just please, get back inside."

"Okay, okay," she replied, jogging back the way she had come. She didn't need much convincing; she wasn't exactly eager about staying outside by herself. She got back to the lobby of Curie Hall and called a tow truck while she waited for Emily, anxious about her walking around this campus in the dark. While she loved Emily and meeting her was the best thing to happen to her in a long time, she hated that her first teaching experience had been so marred.

The door flew open and Emily came running towards her, throwing her arms around her. The entire lobby was empty except for them, and while Paige felt better with Emily there, she wasn't eager to stick around much longer.

"Em, it's okay," she soothed. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," she replied, smoothing her hair back. "What happened?"

"I went out to the parking lot, and my tires were slashed. I didn't see anyone. I just called for a tow truck."

"Once they get here we can leave," Emily told her, holding her close. "I want to get out of here."

"You and me both."

They waited for the tow truck to arrive before heading to Emily's car. She drove them both back to her apartment and let them in, immediately turning on every light in the living room.

"You should stay here tonight," she told Paige. "So I can drive you to work tomorrow."

"If you wouldn't mind."

"Of course I wouldn't," she replied, looking at her. "Paige, I'm really sorry. You've had a lot of tough breaks lately."

"Nothing I can't handle," she replied, trying to smile bravely. Emily walked over to her and kissed her softly.

"You're safe here, baby," she told her softly. Paige smiled.

"I know."

"Come on," Emily replied, leading her to her bedroom. "Let's get settled."

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews guys!